Month: July 2025

The beloved TV chef appears one last time alongside Gabe Bertaccini in a format-flipping edition of the Food Network hit. Continue reading…

​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

Almost 20 years ago, Rodney Atkins’ young son Elijah inspired ‘Watching You.’ Now, in a new duet version of the song, he’s singing its lyrics with his country star father. Continue reading…

​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

She couldn’t see Keith Urban, but he saw her — and made sure she felt it.

Continue reading…

​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

A huge explosion at a California fireworks warehouse caused a wildfire, too. Continue reading…

​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

Clayton Johnson has been running in musical circles with some of the biggest names, having played guitar for artists like Scotty McCreery and Sabrina Carpenter. Now, signed to Universal Music Group Publishing, and Audio Chateau Records, the singer/songwriter is making a name for himself with his biggest solo project to date — his debut EP called Live To Learn.  

Growing up, Johnson lived in Modesto, Calif., a highly agricultural part of the state. His mother, an avid listener of ‘90s country music, helped shape his love of the country genre. But he didn’t truly immerse himself in country music until later in life. After picking up the guitar at a young age, Johnson went on to dabble in various scenes, including pop-punk. He even ventured off navigating through different entertainment projects, including joining a handful of bands, starring in music videos, and modeling for Boot Barn. But, through all of his endeavors, country music is where he has felt most at home. 

“That is where I felt most at home, the most like myself,” Johnson confirmed in an interview with Country Now. “It connected me the most to my family. So I think it was a natural progression for me to come full circle from growing up on it, checking out other genres, and coming back to what inspired me to the first music I grew up listening to growing up.” 

An Unexpected Journey Of Ups and Downs

“My career and my path has not been…. a straight path. It hasn’t been an easy path. It’s been a lot of — I find myself trying to find where I feel the most at peace and where I feel the most like myself. It’s taken me to different places of exploration with acting, other genres, living in different places,” he added. “I’m in my mid-30s now and I feel like, as a kid, you have to fall off of a bicycle a couple of times and scrape your knee and feel that pain.”

While his musical path began with a viral moment after a comedy influencer discovered him via a “Howdy” pillow, Johnson didn’t turn his main focus to music until he connected with Kevin Bard, a multi-platinum songwriter and producer who has worked with artists like Dan + Shay and Parmalee. 

“I wasn’t trying to start a career being an artist, but as they say, when you are not looking for love that’s when it finds you,” Johnson, who has scored a songwriting credit on “Tough,” a song by Quavo and Lana Del Rey that landed on the Billboard Hot 100, shared. “I decided to step away from music and was just doing it for fun, but that’s when doors started opening up for me with opportunities to pursue something full-time in country music.”

Johnson’s Debut EP Marks A Fresh Start

“I partnered with Kevin Bard, an old friend of mine, and we started working together. It felt right and natural and people were loving the songs,” he added. “Here we are 6 years later, still doing it, still touring, and this is the first full body of work that I put out a few weeks ago, the Live to Learn EP.” 

Johnson’s seven-track EP reflects the journey he has been through, with deeply personal lyrics that explore themes of heartbreak, growth, and resilience. The collection also offers some windows rolled-down kind of songs that are perfect for summertime. Perhaps the title track sums up the road Johnson has taken thus far. The track shares the message that life doesn’t come with a how-to book, and the only way to survive is by learning from one’s mistakes. But the tune isn’t a sad song by any means. With its driving melody and vibrant acoustics, Johnson’s delivery of the track is bound to put a smile on the listener’s face.  

Listen

“If you wanna break in your boots / You gotta kick up some dirt / You gotta play with some fire / To know how not to get burned / Falling in love’s gonna / Come with a little bit of heartbreak hurt / You’ll take a couple wrong turns / But you gotta live to learn,” Johnson sings throughout the chorus of the track, written alongside Katie Cecil, Shawn Chambliss, and Chris Ganoudis.

“‘Live To Learn’ is the title track on the EP and Lord knows I’ve done a lot of living and a lot of learning. If I hadn’t gone through some of the poor choices I’ve made or things that happened in my life that are out of my control, I wouldn’t be the man that I am today,” Johnson said. 

Feeling At Home In Tennessee

One positive choice Johnson has made was moving to Nashville, Tenn. The rising artist says he felt compelled to pack up his bags for Music City early on and couldn’t be happier that he made that decision because “I’ve always felt at peace and at home here.” 

“Ever since I moved and was visiting Nashville years ago, I’ve always felt a calling to be here,” he shared. “I had a Facebook memory pop up 15 years ago that said, ‘I can’t wait to move to the South’ and sure enough, here I am years later. I finally made it happen. But, I’ve always felt at peace and at home here. California will always be my home. My parents still have their little ranch out there. We’ll go out there for the 4th of July, which will be nice, but I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be right now.” 

Johnson notes that the closing track on Live To Learn called “I’ll Quit Drinking Tomorrow” reflects his current lifestyle in Tennessee the most as he’s always finding a reason to leave the house, whether it’s to hit the lake or to watch a football game with friends.

The highly-relatable tune offers a more traditional-leaning fix for country fans, with its simple melody, subtle pedal steel, and classic electric guitar licks as Johnson sings: “‘Cause the good times are rollin’ / The drinks keep on flowing / And I’ve never been one to say no / Friday to Friday / There’s always a party / And, yeah, it’s gonna take its toll / I’ve said it all before, I know / That I’ll quit drinkin’ / But I’ll quit drinkin’ tomorrow.” 

“I’ll Quit Drinkin’”

“That’s kind of like my life in Nashville sometimes, where after a weekend of going out with your friends, you’re like, “OK. I’m going to be healthy, and hit the gym this week. I’m not drinking tomorrow and then someone calls you and says, ‘Hey. Monday night football is tonight. We’re going out to a bar to watch the game,” he shared. “It’s like, ‘Alright. I’ll quit drinking tomorrow.’ There’s always a reason to go out and celebrate life.”

“Some of these songs are meant to just be turned up, to be fun to listen to, to set a vibe driving or hanging out with friends,” he insists. “Other songs are meant for a little bit more reflection. There’s a ballad on there called “Never Have To Say.” It’s one of my favorites.”

Writing Love Songs Inspired By His Parents

“It’s a beautiful love song. I have parents that have been married for almost 40 years and I see the kind of love they have and I’m a single man,” the singer, who was once engaged to Lana Del Rey, adds. “So writing songs that are inspired by them and the love they have, it’s been great to put everything I’ve gone through into this EP. There are some fun songs on there too that are based on true stories. So I think there’s a little bit of everything for everybody.” 

“Anybody” also taps into the love song sphere. The track features an uptempo finger-snapping melody, with Johnson swooning over a love interest, telling her: “You make a diamond look like coal / You make the night stars lose their glow / You make every classic fairytale sound the same / What can I say? / You make a champagne high taste sour / You make a day feel like an hour / You make a burnеd out heart like mine feel thе fire again / I never guessed / That I’d be out here writing a love song for anybody / But girl, you ain’t just anybody.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clayton Johnson (@claywatch)

One song that falls somewhere in the middle of serious and lighthearted is the flirtatious “Talk Is Cheap,” which finds Johnson sharing the reminder that getting to know someone doesn’t cost money.

He sings, “‘Cause talk is cheap / So let’s see you and me / Let our lips get lost / See where it might lead / Yeah, there ain’t no price / On a back booth night / Ain’t gonna cost you a dime / To spend your time on me / ‘Cause talk is cheap.”

“I wrote that song with Kevin Bard and my brother Chantry Johnson, a songwriter out in California. As a single man, you want to be a gentleman on dates. You meet girls and you want to take care of everything. You want to make her dinner and Uber and all of those things. It adds up over time,”’ Johnson said while describing the meaning behind the track. “If you go on a couple of dates a month, that starts adding up quickly. The dates are worth it. I have no problem spending the money on it, but the whole point of the song is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get to know somebody.” 

Earned Recognition From LeAnn Rimes

“‘Talk Is Cheap’ is about how it doesn’t cost anything to find out your favorite song at karaoke or where your parents are from or who your home team is and things like that. It’s a really fun play on words for me and it was cool because at one point in the song, I say, ‘What’s your go-to LeAnn Rimes song at Karaoke?’ I posted it on Instagram with a video clip, and LeAnn Rimes, the queen herself, commented on the video about how much she liked the song,” he added. “So that was cool for me to have somebody like her comment and acknowledge my song with her name on it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clayton Johnson (@claywatch)

Elsewhere, Johnson packs in nostalgia in “18 Again,” reflecting on those tender teenage years and the euphoria of falling in love for the first time. The song paints a stunning visual of summertime romance with its powerful descriptions that embody the feelings of being young and carefree while also paying a sweet tribute to lasting love. 

“Tailgate dreaming / Jumping off the dock in the midnight moon / And speakers singing / American Girl in the middle of June / A Tennessee sky, you by my side / I swear I can still see your / Feet on the dash, hand in the wind / And just like that, we’re 18 again,” Johnson sings.

“All of these songs are my journey and my stories of love lost and even manifestations of love that I hope to find one day…I think people can relate to the songs that send you back to a time in your life….” Johnson shares of his EP. “I just want to encourage people and hopefully they can relate to this EP where just because you’re going through the fire doesn’t mean that you’re going to completely burn down. You can come out of it stronger and it can make you a better person from it. So that’s really what this whole album encapsulates.” 

More Music And Tour Dates To Come

Johnson, who draws comparisons to Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan, recently wrapped touring dates opening for Tyler Rich. Drawing more than 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners, he hints that he may have a full schedule of shows coming later this year.

“As far as what’s coming up next, I have some tours and shows that I’m excited to announce pretty soon. I can’t talk about it quite yet. But, I’ve got some great things in the works because I’ve been doing everything by myself. I haven’t gotten a manager yet,” Johnson said. “Now I’m starting to see a little bit of success. So I’m taking bigger management meetings and booking agent meetings. So I’m just excited to keep this thing going and keep writing songs for myself and for other artists. We’re shooting three videos next week for the last three songs on the EP and it’s going to be great to put out visualizers and keep promoting these songs throughout summer.”

The post Clayton Johnson On Finding His Way Back to Country Music And The Stories Behind His Debut EP, ‘Live To Learn’ [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Fans in attendance at Keith Urban’s High and Alive World Tour stop in Cincinnati, OH last week got an unexpected treat when rising country artist Britnee Kellogg made a surprise pop-up appearance on stage. The two joined forces for a powerful duet of Urban’s 2013 hit with Miranda Lambert, “We Were Us.”

Originally co-written by Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins and Nicolle Galyon, the nostalgic track finds both singers reminiscing on the beauty of young love and wishing they could go back to the way things were. Kellogg stepped into Lambert’s role, blending her powerhouse vocals with Urban’s signature sound and electric guitar picks as they paint a picture of a time when life was simpler and love felt like it would last forever.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Britnee Kellogg (@britneekellogg)

The pair of artists commanded the stage as they united on the chorus, “Back when that song was a song/ I could sing along without thinkin’ ’bout you every time it came on/ Every beat, every line, every word, every time/ When a road was a road/ I could roll on through without wishin’ that empty seat was you/ Money was gas, dreams were dust/ Love was fast and we were us.”

Kellogg Reveals How The Opportunity Came About

According to Kellogg, the chance to share the stage with Keith Urban came out of their time working together on The Road, his upcoming competition series created alongside Blake Shelton.

“One of the producers of ‘The Road’ reached out to me to connect me with Keith’s team about performing at a show on the tour to promote the show and I immediately freaked out obviously,” Kellogg tells us. “Working with Keith on the show was such a huge honor, so being asked to sing with him was just a pinch me moment.” 

Kellogg went on to share that the moment was “surreal” and explained what made it even more special for her.

“I felt at home, and every time I looked at him he just seemed so proud which was a really wild feeling. He truly is the most incredibly supportive cheerleader,” she said of Urban. “I feel like I had happy feet the whole time and could see my daughters face screaming go mommy and what a feeling to know that she’s seeing me pursue my dreams, and her first concert was Keith Urban featuring her mama. Like what?!”

Urban introduced Kellogg to the stage by telling the crowd she was “someone who you guys don’t know yet but you will.” He also noted she’s the first contestant from The Road expected to join him on stage randomly throughout the tour.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keith Urban (@keithurban)

Fans Unite With Support For Kellogg

Since sharing a video of the collaborative performance, Kellogg has received hundreds of supportive messages, leaving her in quite the emotional state.

“My support system is unreal and the comments have had me in a puddle since I posted the video. I’m just so grateful to have never given up. I’ve been pursuing this dream since I was 6 years old, so to continue receiving the love and support is something I will never take for granted,” she said.

Just days before stepping on stage with the Australian singer/songwriter, Kellogg revealed that she’s one of 12 rising artists selected to appear on the new CBS competition series. Set to premiere this fall, the show follows a group of aspiring musicians selected to compete as opening acts for Urban at venues across America.

‘The Road’ Is Set To Air This Fall

Each episode features live performances and behind-the-scenes moments as the artists face the realities of life on the road. Urban will be joined throughout the season by executive producers Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan, “Tour Manager” Gretchen Wilson, and a rotating cast of country stars and live audiences who help decide which acts move on in the competition. Only one artist will walk away with the yet-to-be-revealed grand prize.

She says she’s looking forward to watching with everyone this fall.

“The 12 musicians are absolutely incredible and I have now gained 11 new brothers and sisters that will forever be such a big part of my life,” she gushed. “You can expect to see me being my authentic true self. I am 100% a what you see is what you get, and I always keep it real. You’ll see me glammed up and then no makeup with a trucker hat, being my silly self and singing with all my heart.”

After the show, Kellogg admits she feels like a changed woman and credits Urban for giving her advice she will cherish forever.  

“The best advice I received on the show was from Keith Urban. He really helped me open up on stage and step into my confidence. He complimented my songwriting, and I feel like I’m forever changed as a performer because of the belief he instilled in me,” she shared.

The Road is set to premiere in fall 2025 and will air Sundays from 9:00–10:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. It will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

The post Keith Urban Invites ‘The Road’ Contestant Britnee Kellogg to Join Him for ‘We Were Us’ Duet appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Kane Brown typically takes two to three years between albums to write and ensure the project is ready to share with fans. However, if his latest release, “2 Pair” takes off the way he’s hoping, he says that timeline could shift.

He released his fourth studio album, The High Road, at the top of the year. By his usual pace, that would normally mean that fans shouldn’t expect another full-length project until 2027 or 2028. But in a recent interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Brown shared that “2 Pair” has his full attention right now, and it’s already pulling him back into writing mode for a project that would potentially come sooner than expected.

“So this is the song that I’m focused on. But I have writers coming down to Florida actually this week,” he revealed at the time. “It wasn’t going to be a project, but if this song “2 Pair” takes off, then there might be a EP or a quick nine-song album or something coming out.”

He goes on to say that this summertime anthem has him the most excited he’s been about a song in a while. Not only has it encouraged him to get back into writing sessions, but the country star admits he’s also fired up about getting back on his “social media grind.”

“You’re going to see me everywhere,” Brown admitted.

Produced by Jordan Schmidt and penned alongside co-writers Andrew Haas, Gabe Foust, Ian Franzino, Jacob Hackworth and Jaxson Free, the country, pop, and R&B blended track perfectly sets the tone for the care-free nature of the warm season.

Brown explained that this song is intended to be his countrified version of Nelly’s early 2000s track, “Air Force Ones.” The lyrics pay tribute to Brown’s appreciation for the classic country style as he emphasizes the importance of having good pair of leather boots for any occasion.

“Give me two pairs of Luccheses/ All-white shirt and some bootcut jeans/ I’ll go all night, stomping to the beat/ I just got a check, blew it all on my feet like/ Ooh, ooh/ Ain’t s**t you can tell me, I feel like Nelly/ Give me two pairs of Lucchese’s/ All-white shirt and some bootcut jeans, yeah,” he sings.

Continuing to share his pride for the track, Brown added, “It’s really just a fun stomping song, like the country version of Nelly’s ‘Air Force Ones.’”

The multi-platinum selling act revealed that there was a lot of work that went being the scenes in order to make “2 Pair” perfect.

“At first, I wanted to release it and then we got feedback of, ‘I want to hear it grow’ and we were trying to do it so fast and make it look like we’re just putting this out, we’re not really putting a lot of effort behind it,” he explained.

Thanks to producer Jordan Schmidt, they eventually landed on a sound that finally made Brown feel like their work was complete and ready to share with the world.

“The chorus is just, it’s going to carry the summer. The song just keeps growing. I love the verses more. Everything about it, I just love 10 times more.” 

Kane Brown is keeping plenty on his plate this year. In addition to getting back to work with his songwriting duties, he’s hitting the road for a run of solo shows and major festival appearances this summer. Then, he’ll head overseas for the second leg of The High Road Tour across Europe and the UK.

On top of the tour, he’s also gearing up for his feature film debut in The Token Groomsman. And if “2 Pair” keeps building momentum the way he hopes, fans might be seeing even more from Kane Brown in the near future.

The post Kane Brown Could Break His Album Cycle If ‘2 Pair’ Takes Off appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Parker McCollum’s new self-titled album closes with a song that’s become one of his personal favorites, but he revealed it almost ended up in someone else’s hands. 

When he first started writing “My Worst Enemy,” McCollum had fellow Texan Koe Wetzel in mind, drawing inspiration from what Wetzel was going through at the time. Fortunately for McCollum, his fellow Texan passed on the chance to cut it and now the track holds a standout spot on the just-released album.

“I was writing it and then Wade Bowen was coming over to my house and I just sat down and I started writing it. I was like, ‘man, I feel like just thinking about Koe and everything he was going through at the time and some of the music he was putting out.’ And so I was kind of writing it with him in mind,” McCollum explained to Audacy’s Katie Neal.

McCollum originally pitched the track to his fellow artist who inspired the deep storyline, but he quickly had second thoughts. “I really wish I wouldn’t have done that,” he admitted, after realizing he wanted to cut the song himself.

He also offered Wetzel the chance to be a featured artist on the track, which he once agin declined.

“Luckily, he didn’t cut it, and then I asked him to sing on it with me, and he didn’t want to do that,” McCollum added. “And so I was like, alright, I’m going to cut it on this record. And it turned out to be one of my favorite songs on the record. I just love it so much. So I’m really glad he didn’t like it.”

The song is as raw as it gets, offering an exploration of self-doubt, internal battles, and loneliness. The moody melody mixed with pain-soaked lyrics paints a vivid picture of someone haunted by a toxic relationship with themselves and feeling trapped in a cycle they can’t escape the voice inside.

“Mirror, mirror could it be any clearer?/ Is there someone that I’m supposed to see?/ Ride or die, been this way my whole life/ Guess it’s all that I’m ever gonna be/ My worst enemy,” McCollum sings through his gritty vocals on the chorus.

In another conversation with Country Now and other outlets, the “What Kinda Man” singer opened up about this decision to place “My Worst Enemy” as the very last track of his self-titled collection.

“It felt real final. It felt like a great goodbye,” he explained. “It wasn’t really the last song on the record or hadn’t even talked about anything like that. And we were all kind in the studio looking at each other doing a live fade out and everybody’s kind of playing down and all of a sudden just that big outro, everybody just knew. I feel like you ride off into the sunset on that outro and we were sitting back listening to it. I was like, man, ‘That’s got to be the last song on the record.’”

“My Worst Enemy” perfectly fits into themes of authenticity and rawness that curses throughout the 14-track project. These songs give fans a deeper look into who Parker McCollum is and allows him to step expectations of others. As a result, he has embraced a sound that’s entirely his own.

The post How A Track Inspired By Koe Wetzel Became A Highlight On Parker McCollum’s New Album appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

Post Malone has officially opened the doors to Posty’s in Nashville ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend. 

Located at 305 Broadway, the 26,000-square-foot establishment opened its doors on Wednesday, July 2. It features six bars and three stages across three floors. 

According to a release, Posty’s boasts the largest ground-floor footprint on Broadway, complete with three bars, a VIP lounge, a live music stage, and a gift shop. 

Guests can also enter from 3rd Avenue for quick counter-service dining, while the lower-level artist lounge provides a private space with karaoke. 

Upstairs, the rooftop patio delivers stunning views of Nashville’s beloved skyline. 

Fans hoping to grab a bite to eat are in luck because the Posty’s menu has something for everyone with a variety of flavors and dishes. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, and Southern classics including BBQ ribs, cowboy ribeyes, and more. 

A late-night menu is available at the counter near the Roadside entrance off 3rd Ave with selections like grilled cheese and a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich. 

“We’ve created a space where everyone can come together and kick some ass. Nashville has really become a second home for me so I can’t wait to invite y’all over to my house,” Post Malone previously shared of Posty’s. 

Posty’s is operated by TC Restaurant Group, which is known for its successful management and operations of celebrity branded venues such as Morgan Wallen’s This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Luke’s 32 Bridge, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, and Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up.

“Post Malone is one of the most influential and gravitational artists of our time, and we’re thrilled to partner with him on this exciting concept,” Adam Hesler, President and CEO of TC Restaurant Group, previously shared.. “We’re honored to work with someone as dynamic as he is and create a venue that embodies his spirit and brings a new experience to Nashville’s Entertainment District. There’s only one reason we would consider expanding our artist partnerships, and that is to have the ability to partner with someone of the caliber, innovation and authenticity of Post. His talent and ability to transcend multiple genres is one of a kind, and we look forward to creating a venue that resonates with his global fan base.” 

Post Malone recently wrapped his “Big Ass Stadium” tour, following his record-breaking F-1 Trillion Tour last fall. These tours were in support of his debut country album, F-1 Trillion, which landed at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart upon its release. 

The post See Inside Post Malone’s Massive New Nashville Bar, Posty’s appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now